flonornrb’

oavttr.

to. -22.

CllARLOTTETOWN,PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, TUESDAY, APRIL 27,1852.

N0. 1155.

_..—_.—._,

ltutstattbr turorrttitiintt. HOUSE or ASSEMBLY.

Dnsrrrctt or THI LATI: Ltutrr. GOVIRNOI, StrtDotv.u.t> CArsraIt.t., BAI‘l'., on ‘nu: st:n.r acr or ‘run Faeri- cltts: AID Co:vs'rt1'u'rioiv or Tllll IILAND.

'I‘ttuasiuv, March 4. AFTERNOON Sl'I"l'lNG. (flemainvler of Debate concluded.) Hort. Mr. WAllBUl{'I‘0}l. I also will support the motion of

III honorable friend, for tlte abolition of tlte property qualification candidates; and I regard it as otte of the most enliglitr-.nexl pro-

pousls which has been subtttitted to the consideration of this House;

although I inn of opinion. that its propriety would not, at this titne, have immediately pressed itset upott t a it of my honorable friend, or tltat ofany other honorable member, had it not been for the indignant feelings, itroused by t o disclosure of tire infamous tjsct fur the dtsfrttncltisetnertt oftlte tenantry, conceived by tile ma Governor. Irittt ofopiiiinn, that evrry llhln vrliu is not dis- aalilied by some legal disability of a much grnv-~r character than tof property, sltould be entitled to the elective francltise; and

I can nee titi reason, why everv ittdividu:tl, iit what circumstances

of life aoevur he may e. to whom the rights of an elector are, or

ought to be, conced--d, should not also, It! virtue of his title to those rights. he ctinaid-cred qualified to praise 1| ltintrielf, at lln election. as

a candidate for the sutfriiges of his fellow freeman, and held eligible

to I sent in the Artareuibly. A man might be poor. and yet, at tile

lame time, he possessed ofmuch hottest :tnd discernment; nay, of much talent and ttiuch high and ltonorable principle; and, in .Iitct. so far were riches, either in this. or in any other coinmuitity, from being I certain or iitfnlltble outward sign of superior worth or grout insntul endowments, tltat these essentials of true dignity in man, were more frequently found to be distinguishing ntiriltutas of nten of moderate fortunes itnd humble means. than of those pus- unused of much substance or uncotnnion wealth. I do not appre- Itend, that the abolition of the property qualification of candidates

will, ifeffected. be the immediate cause of it siitgle iitiproper fg- . turn to the Assembly; forI ain coiifident, the good sense of the ~

people will not_n|luw their choice to fall upon tiny ntari to represent them in the Legislature who is ignorant 0 their interests, or unable to assist in the furtherance of the public husitiesri. On the contrary. the removal of all nnreasortiilile reislrictionil, will so increase their liberty ofuelectioii, that I itin inclined to believe, that the results will be innch more likely. to add to the wisdom and etiici.-ncy of‘ the representative branc of the Legislature, than otherwise. It is well known that itt many instances, individuals have been return- ed to the Assembly. rather lty moans iif coercion. than through the free choice and good will of the electors; but, I hope, the extension of the frtineltise and the abolition of the property qualification of curt-lidatuzt, which it is purposed to elfect by titaaiis of the Bill, on which we are now in Coniutiitee, will, in future, be the inenns of excluding from this House, all who might otherwise have obtained seats in it, independently of the good will of the people; and, even if in the exercise of their good will, they should select "mo of the hitrnbleat circumstances to represent them in the Assembly, it would certainly be much better for the general good. to have such men here. even if they were in rags, than that men tvho have forced themselves upon constituencies, should have it in their power to in‘ t tliem and oppose the rrtettsures the tsrout desired by them; and I. for one. would rejoic- at the change.

Mr. DUUSE. I feel proud to be numbered among the men, and to belong to the party, whose principles and politics give so touch Innitynnog to the honorable member from Bedeque, and who are especially honoured b his abuse; but of the document, respecting which he has uularg with so much seeming patriotism, I know nothing tnore than has been cominuntcated to the House b is Es- cullancy's Message. I am, however, somewhat surpri , that the Governtnent have thought ro r to connect that document with the measure now before the House; although I am inclined to believe that it has now been brought forward to afford some shadow of rea- son for the motion of the honorable the Lender of the Government for the abolition of the property qualification of members, that by the carrying of it. a cettain honorable member may be relieved from an inconvenient obligation, and his tuition in the Assembly rendered somewhat less questionable th.in it has been made by the late disagreeable investigation concerning his legal qualification; for the ministerial majority seem eager to avail themselves of the present crisis. and, by turning it to their advantrige, to guard against any damage which their party tnight sustain, in. future, in conse- quence of any similar enquiries. Of the inconsistency of the ho- notable rrientber from Bedeque, I have seen so much, that have ceased to be our ris at any new instance of it, however extrava- gant; but just ufller having heard Itiltl argue so earnestly for the abolition of the property qualification of iitembnrs. I cannot refrain from renittrking that I have repeatedly, on former occasions, heard him speak in II straiti quite different from that in which it now suits his purpose to indulge. and very haughtily avow opinions, the very reverse of those which he now ‘ d

-

rofesses to entertain. I e on were formerly of one mind (at east so I thought), with respect to the qualification of candidates or members; and he then in-tintiiincd that a higher qualification for candidates was indispensable, to the and that Increased respectability iiiigltt itttach to the Assembly; but now, instead of objecting, its lorinerly, to the existing qualifi- ion on account of its insignificant and paltry amount, nothing will satisfy him and his party, in their alarm, but its total abolition; as if they were actually afraid, that the possession of roperty. by members, would detritct from the respectability of the llouse. 'I‘ltetr real object, however. is so ilitin, that it would be absurd to specu- Iste concerning it; but this will say, tltat if to sustain tltem-elves their present position, they succeed in bringing into this House, members of it, melt who ave no property or stake in the coun- try. it will directly lend to diminish the worth, as well III the se- earity of property in the Colony; and as long as such lo-gislative rs- tion and such it suits of things shall exist, so long will the ressof the Colony towards prosperity be checked. 'l‘he pre- sent qualification «if .550 is so low, as to iii.-tltn a men almost itsh.irit- d teeny, he is a insiubsr of the Assembly. How then will it be. when there shall be no property qualification at all ? lfthe quali- Ieatiori had been higher, the afliiirs of the public would liavu been In much inora atfinitmt hands, and our prospects would have been much more sail-f'.rctor and cheering than they are at present.

Hon. Mr. POI‘!-2, rriefly but sarcitstically, replied to illr. Douse. The memory ofthe honorable member for Belfast, he said, was oarniinly either u very defective or a very aceomniodaiing one : its remembrattces of the past. seemed at times, to be slagnlarly incor-

- nut; and it ' not appear to trouble him with any im-onveolent erutabarmssing recollections. or he would not have been sblete dinvow, its but had dune, all previous knowledge of the new Con- Iitution, by the adoption of vrhich. it had been hoped. that the pub- lig yniog would he efliectually siided. and the rats of the privileged hw be established and perpetuated. And, concluded the horinra- Ills M03500, as to what he (".\.Ir. Douse) ht;'s.jut::0r|idvsncp_d.hin the fin nrsat,rt ninstt u lorl I itlonii t s» o- flt? mflnn |'nr‘Meiriliers of the Assembly, it aflirrds it prleufty

‘ c tilled s.

Girl I that ha himsrf, may, not unjustly, be whhlt‘ hvuins lie chte ‘ in their brcee ' list Ir. 0 rose, Illt sp--ks nearly as ollows 2'-—'I‘hu

t to i: His I£soellrmsy‘s Mesunge is a most detes- tuhlu pvodurthsa : Ieoald have boon conceived by none but it ty- rant} and the pun vshh which it was written, must have been sup- ied by his sahlo mu’ ty. I cannot that language in ultich to es- presu myself with «giant severity respecting those who propourtd. ed egnssslstrd in tho; ooqcoctiuglof tllllathztmluqo. ‘melt and in- st vrsrsasturs tritium. as t in polite: tier , re a l min who would havBuJn:.hnd the people of all the freedom w tycanboastas t su . Wstisiho.Mgao rtenf B'f'll'Ill|:..‘DII thshelecti: "zihlrnpgnd trial by jhr I -apaea tors s t s at cl b t t

fissdom of be I Yes, this. f¢c.Il0nof:ttIletI With a borrowed from

fie ,thuyhuvudrhwnu s llwhiehltas no pvsliul fa tyranny and lrtjnsticrh Cuhtai Hlstuy. only think dis 3's having lived for alsntsea ysurssd aluvuauuaths in his

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r the wisdom which he has a

, The murderous crew !

derness into fertile fields, and who, on account of his conduct, is acknowledged it good member of society—onlv think of the iniquity and tyrannv of decreeinx, tltat this man shall not have a vote because he has not been in possession of his farm for twenty years I Oh, shame or: the originators ofsuch a scheme! iv, the people h.i_re bi-enilied on them it deadly blust: they are de-td in public estirn-ttioq. But their deeds live to their shame, as witness ll” ‘l"°‘""’"|l Ill"): on the table. And now we are told, by the agent of the Earl of Selkirk, that to do rtwa with the property llflillllimilion ofnieiithers_would be to deprive t to House of its dig- llll y. What it dignified intelligent personage the honorable member :\lr. Douse is, to be sure ! He has had a seat in the Assembly for fifteen or seventeen years, and at he is so ignorant ofthe laws and rules of the House. th:it he thinks the resolution submit the honorable the Leader of the Government, will interfere ‘Q case now pending between Mr. Palmer and the Hon. Ed, '

_Ifthey were itot, he would surely know that we can- not meddle WI'l| th:tt which is past. So much for his dignity and cquired during his legislative career. 'l‘lia honnratrle and digviified tneuiher also denies, that he had an

ltnowletlgn of the plot for the disfnincliisetnent of the people. t may just now serve his purpme to say so; but he always supported Sir Donald Catttplmll andgthe clique that had access to his ear. _ it is no wonder that Sir Alexander Banner- mnn got tnstt_ut:ttons to call oti Sir John Hitrve for additional troops; for, bad llllrl infamous measure become law, I ey would, very soon, have been tnocli needed. Had it become litw, myself would have been prepzired lo foinent rebellion. Yes, had it become law, Charlottetown would soon have been swept off the face ofthe earth ! And who Wlll say, that I am not a loyitl sul-'ect.’ I am lovttl, and

, the people in general itre loyal; but, had that detestable ineasure

bc_cume law, their loyalty would have given way to the most deter. mined and despor:ite_hatred towards those who, with the hand of oppression, had tIt..'(ll’IVelI them of what they had so justly prized. Iiut the wisdom of the Home Government has averted those evils.

. They knew better than to grant these worthies their desire, and

treat the loyal people of Prince Edward Island in the iniquitous and tyrniinous itianner prayed for. 'I'lie Despatch has, however, let the cut out of the bag completely; and the people will now e able, "|*'l‘° Cl0‘"l_V lllllll GVET. lo distinguish betweeen contending parties which oftliem are their friends, and which their foes. I wil sup- port the motion of the honorable Leader of the Government.

Ilon. Mr. COLES. 'l‘lto honorable member for Belfast (‘.\Ir. Douse), will not, lthink, deny that, he expected Sir Alexander Ilnnnernum would bring out a new Constitution for the Colony, and that _the first_dirr.-ct effect of that Constitution would be it new election: tIt|!I,If,lte.cnIIttotdany that, neither can he deny.that he know the Constitution had been prepared hers, and sent to England, to e passed into low by the Inrperinl Prtrliaincnt. It may be, that he did not know the very words which the document contain- ed; but, I itiii persuaded, he very well knew, that the principal ob. ject_of it was the ~essening. to it very gront_ extent, of tlte political privileges ofthe people; and lie also certainly knew, that this had been determined ott,wttltout the consent or knowledge of the people, or their _re_proseritativt-s. Had the object been sit extension of po- pular privileges, there would have been no necessity for its being previously made known to the public; but the contrary was the case, when the end to be nccontplislted was I curtuiltnent of popular righrs; and the concealment of the design, by its jcciors, ront public knowledge, the way in which it was cloaked up and hidden, are characteristic uftreiichery, and afford positive proof, that the knew themselves to be acting ntost traitorously to the people. the pro acted measure had been carried into effect, if the qualifica- tions 0 members of Assembly and electors had been raised, as was contemplated by the Bill or new Constitution, the parlistncntar representation of the people would have been virtually at an en .

one then, would have had seats in tltis House, but men like the honorable member for Belfast, (Mr. Douse). and the honorable tneinber for Port Hill (Mr. Yco); and yet I am certain, 24 men, not worth twenty nce each, inigltt be found, who as A Legisla- tive Assembly, won d be convinced of the pr-oprigty orth. motion which! haveynade; and am so thoroughly disgusted with the in- sinuations which frorri time to ttine have been thrown out in this House, on the score of the present paltry qualification of members; thutl would be willing to stake my existence ass member ofthe Go- vernment on the fate of the tnotion in the mine. I have, hitherto, done my dot for the protection and furtherance of popular rights : I.It:IVt3 fougtlttrigatniittyrnnny and oppression; and. utideterred by either opposition or l|tIlC|lI6, I will, so long as l have the honor of a seq in this House, continue my exertions for the preservation and extension ofthe cutiritittitiottnl and undeniable rtglits of the people. 'I‘he supposition, tltat my motion is intended to have any effect upon the matter at issue, before this House, between the Ilon. Mr. Whelan and Mr. l’nlnier, is so absurd, tltat deem it uitwortlty of reply. _'l‘he_tnotion wliicli l have made for the repeal ofthe pro- perty qualific.i_tion of candidates, will properly belong to the Bill for the Iixtension of the Elective Frrtncltise now before us; but think it would be better to bring in a se arnte Bill for the change proposed to be effected with respect to t e division of the Electoral Districts, than to engraft it upon this measure. .

Mr. DOUSE admitted that he had heard a rumour respecting some purported or expected change in our Representative Constitu- tion, but declared that nothing definite or positive touching it had ever come to his knowledge. With respect to the Resolution ofthe Ilon. the Leader of the Government, his opinion, however, was that it was intended to bear eventually upon the question at issue, concerning the legal ualification ofa certain member of the House; and he was pcrsuadeil, that the people in general would take the same view it it And as he had also already said, so far was he from thinking it advisable to abolish the property qualification of ntentbers, it was his firtti belief, that had that qualification in the existing Election Law been considerably higher than it is, not only would there have been iriuclt more satisfaction with our prospects and the state ofour itfftirs amongst the people; but, as it Colotty, xv; should altogether have been triore respectable in the eyes of et err.

llon. Mr. VVIIELAN. As I have been most pointedly sl- lnded to by tlle hurt. member for Belfast, (Mr. Douse,) who has, most intwsrtantsbly, Illottght prnpt-r to assume grid to assert, that the proposition for the abolition of the prnpertv qualification of candidates for seats in this House, Iubtltllletl by the boil. the Leader of the Government, is intruded to ttpento in mv favor, with respect to the question of privileges itow pending, before the House; I feel it to be dtie, not only to myself, but to my hon. fri.-url. the Leader of the Gorrtiim--iii, a -d also to the supporters of the Govt-rnmeni in the Hour,-_ to declare, that not only hurl I no knowledge of the Resolution before it was submitted, but I am convinced, that no other hon. membrr, hvmles the inovt-r himself, linew any thing of his in- tt-tttion until then. But the tthsnrtlity of the supposition, that the success of the motion could be made to bear, in am stay, in my favor with respect to the pending rnquiry, is so great, and so ehsrscteristic of its author, that I no not believe there is another man in the country, I)I'Il(It'I tbs hon. member for B-vlfast, (Mr. Doti.~xr,) so intensely ignorant as to stip se that ls esa all-erttiy position to this House. It’ the re:-u t of the pelltlittg enquiry were my rrmovsl from this House, evr-ry person acquainted with that operation or’ thr laws” knows very well. that, slthottlli the Resolution, for the abolition of the property qnslidestiott of candidates, should now be carried, it I‘-mlltl. in no WI)’. sfsct my eliuibtllty for re-rlretinti to the Assembly. The hon. member for Bi-lfust. (Mr. Dense.) has dimttly lnsinnated, that, in the event or my removal, it is in- tended that I shall hr brought in strain antler rout of the R--- solution for the abolition of the property qualification of mem- bers; but least from me. with scorn, the absurd and-rnsliirnsai imputation, and can confidently tell the hon. inemlm, thnt all he has established, by his charm", is to wish ittauifest. to all who h~ve lirsrd Ititll“II|lI be tnust be either the roost amusing- ly and hopelessl , , _nt iaau, thatssur pressured tosddnst a public ssssui y,sr tflhis Indus-Isa srtisr. If be Is blessed vtltlt any _ mass at sltbsr,nsst bass

given wsv to the plltry and irrational gratification ofgrstuitotir ly wounding a political adversary. Willi respect to His Ex- cellency's Message. I ht-artily rejoice at the disclosure which it has tits-ls respecting one of the most infamous documents which has ever been framed by tyrants for the betrayal rf a free people and the subvvisioa of Illt'll’ rigtits. Of the collusory acts of the late Government, with respect to that iniquitous messurt-,oI'the existence of which the «locum:-nt rcferrrd to is the cvi«lent:r, if not of their actual pate-rttal I’I‘lIIlt)Il to it, there could new art longer be a doubt; and it would now afford the fullest proof-if thst indeed were yet r.-qnire«l—to the people, how utterly unworthy thatflturerntneat and its iupjt0|’le'l were of public respect and confidence; and how false. bass, and ser- vile are the scribes who have wtitteit, and still continue to writ .in certain public journals, in favurofa party overthrown by - force ‘of pablls opinion, in the vsiii hope of creating a rs-union in their favor, and re-eltttblialtiitg their power. That individual tnensbers of that party in this House, particularly the most prominent and active among them. Bilullltl painfully feel the weight ofdishonor which has hot-n thrown upott tlietn by the disclosure in His Exccllenry’s Messing-, is by no means surprising; but tltst, remembering their own bo tats concerning the expected change in the btsie of parliamentary represrnta- lion, through the operation of " the new Constitution,” which they expected to date ftoin the tittie of Sir Alexander Banner- man's assuming the sdinttiistration of the Government, I rim, iacleetl, surprised, that they can pretend to have been ittviorant of the nature and extent of the changes which were to have been ell‘--cted in the Colony by that Constitution. It is impos- sthle that they can have t'org.:o'.t~n the boasts, and taunts, and ji-ere, in which they indulgrd, in their food expectation of the overthrow of public opinion: and neither can the bo:t<tful and w-irniug declarations of their scribe of “The launder,” either in the eilitorisl rolumtte of that most veraciotis and respectable of public journals. or at the public meeting at Lot I9, have so complrtely pass-d away from their ieitteiitbritnce, as to admit of their honestly and conscientiously asserting, that they hail no po<itive ltnowletlge of "the new Coiistiltiliuo." bu-fore it was sent to Hnatlaitd to be passed into law by the British Par- liament. At Lot ID, the editor of “T/ll! Islander,” caatioitrtl the electors lIIt'l| present not to be in a hurry to pledge them- selves, but they might afterwards see reason to repeat of their having dutie so, for it new Constitution for the Colony was coming out, which would create a great and important change in the basis of parliamentary rt-presentation. Most Iulltltl-tltzly,

howr-vsr, for the well-being of the people of this Co'ot-._v, the nefarious roj-ct met with no favor from the Home Gov.-rn- ment; an it has now only been brought publit:l_v to light, to cover with sham-. and confusion the parties with whom it ori- ainatc-I; and to afford just cause for t-ittilttttioit, on the part of the people and the faithful defenders and promoters of their political tlflltle and common prosperity. The members of the

ate Government and their IllIt8I’t‘lllS may deny, as strniigly as they please, their having had any share in the devising uftbnt infamous scheme, or event knowledge of it till now; but I will not believe them : and, indeed, few, ifiiny, will ; for it is well known that, for a considerable time, they were in d:tilv, almost hearty, rxprctutiori of eDesputch, announcing the confirmation of the measure at Homs. Antl. if it had ern confirmo-d in England, and sent out as a law biaditig upon the people ofthis Colony, what would have been the consequences here? It has already been justly remarked, by an hon. member, that there vroulrl very soon have been occasion to apply. at head quarters, for an accession to the military force stationed amongst us, if any attempt hail been mails to enforce submission, by the people, to such a law. Any such attempt, it cannot bedoubted, would have produced alarming disafli-ction, if not sit actual insurrection; and, although no one could ever justly impugn my loyalty and attaichriieiit to the British Crown, I hesitate not to say, that, if, under such tyranny, I had not been an active propagator of the spirit of instihortlinzttion among the people, I could not, at least, have cherished any sentiments of loyalty in my own breast. In fact, I would defy any honrst man to be loyal to a Government by which encli at law should be pro- cnrril onrl ptit in opt-ratioii. To have enacted, that no lea~r.-- lioldo-r should be entitled to an exercise of the elective franchise, unless he had been in actual occupation for twenty yvitrs. ex- cluding all from that privilege who might have had possession for even nineteen years and eleven months, would have been u on a par, in equity, with that legislut-on \\‘lllCl| should pr-- sctibu the allotvattce of niileagi-. to a witness residing at the distance of twenty miles from the Court, and debit all others from it, slthontzh their abotles tttiglit be I9} tiiilce distant from the seat ofjusticr-. 'I‘ho enaultne-nt of such it luv wool-l, posi- tively, have been the greatest outta-_ie ever committed iipu.i common sense‘, common justice, and the principle: of a free constitution; and, iiltltou.-lr the project has h.ippilt‘ inisrarrietl, its ptt-jvclore and ab»-ttore deserve tiotliiii: short of the assured scorn, contempt. and hatre-l of the people of Prince lidwartl Island. The hon. lIl0lltl’)Pl’ for Ilelftst, (tlr. Donse,) assuming all the lnrdly arrogance of wealth, has saicl, that this House tvonlil have been much more respectable than it is, and the condition and prospects of the people would have IWCII much more satisfactory than they are, IMO the property qtiulificstion ofcutidiilittes been much higher than it is. es, I can tell thr- hon. member how far the resprclaltzltty of the House would have been increusetl, anal how far the r-on-litioo and prospects of the people would have been IIllpItI\‘(‘tl. He and ii few other Land Agents would have sat here. as the resperlahls represen- tatives ofthe few favored iirdividitals to whom they hatl given good jobs on the rstat-a of their prinripals, the proprietors, and at their expense; and the condition of the peoplr would have been greatly ameliorated by their being held in de-.tra4!ing vas- sulage, as me little st-ifs of the little lonls ext-rcising over them a dr-legatetl aiithoiitv f'ur oppressive exaciions.